It looked as if West Catholic was going to struggle. Pen Argyl drove more than half the field to the 1-yard line and seemed poised to snatch an early lead on Saturday.
The Knights handed off to 2,000-yard rusher Dylan Evans, who appeared ready to extend the ball over the plane of the goal line for a score.
Marquise Gordon decided he just wanted to hit somebody.
"I was actually trying to take his head off," Gordon, the Burrs' senior linebacker, said.
He did his team one better. Gordon jostled the ball, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Shaquille James in the end zone. Score prevented, West ball.
Spurred early by their defense, the Burrs went on to trounce District 11 champ Pen Argyl, 32-7, in the PIAA Class AA football quarterfinals at the South Philly Super Site.
West will face Lancaster Catholic next week, time and place to be determined, it what will be its third straight state semifinal appearance. West won the 2010 state title.
It's a good thing the defense showed up early, because the offense sure didn't. West sputtered on its two opening drives, the offense watching from the sideline for nearly the entire first half. Pen Argyl had its way early - gaining 127 yards on its first three series - but didn't put up any points.
"Our defense bent, but it didn't break," West coach Brian Fluck said.
West managed a touchdown 1 minute, 29 seconds before halftime on a 1-yard keeper by quarterback Jaleel Reed, capping a 13-play, 77 yard drive for a 6-0 lead (the extra point was blocked).
The Burrs received a gift when Penn Argyl QB Conor Gum threw an interception into the gut of lineman Jarryd Jones-Smith on the ensuing series. West turned that into another score. Reed hit Bruce Mapp for a 6-yard reception.
After halftime, the Burrs defense again stopped the Knights in the red zone when they turned it over on downs on the 1. West put up another TD (David Williams' 21-yard run) for an 18-0 lead after three quarters.
"We just had to get in a rhythm. We always start off slow to see how they're defending, and we match them and take it from there," said Williams, who finished with 168 yards on 18 carries.
The defense totaled four sacks and two interceptions, forced that fumble, and held Pen Argyl without a score until the final minute. Gordon earned three of those sacks with furious rushes off the edge.
Reserve tailback Jalil Shoatz picked up two TDs, on runs of 27 and 28 yards, late in the fourth. He finished with 69 yards on four carries. Reed went 6-for-7 passing for 59 yards and a score. He fumbled once on a kick return, but picked up 50 rushing yards.
Evans rushed 26 times for 120 yards, finishing the year with 2,066.
Defensive back Tyler Gallashaw added West's second interception. The Burrs have won 10 straight since beginning the season 0-3.
Pen Argyl 0 0 0 7 – 7
West Catholic 0 12 6 14 – 32
WC: Reed 1 run (kick blocked)
WC: Mapp 6 pass from Reed (pass fail)
WC: Williams 21 run (pass fail)
WC: Shoatz 28 run (kick fail)
WC: Shoatz 27 run (James run)
PA: Evans 3 run (Krincek kick)
Contact Evan Burgos at rallysports@phillynews.com.
